For the first time in more than 30 years, people across the nation will set their clocks ahead in March instead of April, which also led to the changing of Wisconsin state laws.

Gov. Jim Doyle signed a bill Tuesday to change the dates of daylight saving time and allow bars to stay open later on the day the time advances.

Starting this year, federal law provides for daylight savings time to start on the second Sunday of March – more than a month sooner than in previous years – in accordance with the Energy Policy Act of 2005, according to the U.S. Naval Observatory Web site.

In addition to changing the dates to match those in the federal law, the new state law allows bars to close at 3:30 a.m. on the Sunday daylight saving time begins.

Learning & Technology Services recommends students double-check electronic calendars to make sure their appointment times don’t change. Not all systems will automatically update times.